Taiwan drops Ang Lee’s ‘Lust, Caution’ as official Oscar entry

Academy spokeswoman Teni Melidonian said that the film was ‘ineligible’ for the Oscars entry because insufficient Taiwanese contributed in the making of the film.

“It was determined an insufficient number of Taiwanese participated in the production of the film,” E! Online quoted Melidonian, as saying.

The Academy said that the movie violated a rule that required foreign countries to certify that their locals “exercised artistic control” over their submission.

Chen Chun-jer, acting director of the Taiwanese government’s movie department, said the Academy required that at least some of the movie’s personnel in cinematography, music, recording and costume design be locals.

“We and Ang Lee are disappointed. Lee has a good chance of winning an Oscar. This movie was also popular in Taiwan.” Chen said.

Chen said the government respected the Oscar requirements.

“Lust, Caution,” about the sexually charged relationship between an undercover activist and the Japanese-allied intelligence chief in Second World War-era Shanghai, won the top Golden Lion prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival.